Donald Beaty, One of Arizona's Most Infamous Killers, Hopes to Outlive The Rapture

We corresponded with child killer Donald Beaty for awhile back in the late 1980s, for a story on Arizona's death row. In fact, we met him briefly during a surreal tour of Cellblock 6, where the condemned used to be "housed" for decades.

Donald Wayne Beaty: "I am not guilty of killing that little girl."

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Beaty was the Valley's most reviled person for a time after police arrested him in May 1984 for the murder and rape of Phoenix Gazette paper carrier Christy Fornoff.

He was a monster in our midst, a predator who struck an innocent little girl as she collected money at a Tempe apartment complex.

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Beaty's middle name of Wayne was one strike against him in our book -- think Robert Wayne Vickers, John Wayne Gacy, Sirhan Wayne Sirhan (scratch the last one).

But we corresponded in the interests of journalism, reading every word of his chicken-scratched, single-spaced scrawl. Here is a short example of Beaty's "prose."

"I am not the guy who would do this, and they never proved it. They needed a bad guy and I happened to be the one they picked. If you really want to look at the police work you will know that this is a frame job."

A few years after our exchanges ended, we did a story on the then-burgeoning victim-rights movement, of which Christy Fornoff's mother was front and center. (Alas, neither of the pieces mentioned in this blog post are available on the Net--too old)

The cover of New Times that week showed Christy's parents holding a large photograph of their late daughter--heart-wrenching stuff.

Not sure if the Fornoffs will be in attendance in Florence at the scheduled May 25 execution of Mr. Beaty.

In our experience, many family members opt not to watch the government finally kill the person who took the life of a loved one. Others do.

(Aside: We have been invited to attend executions over the years by two inmates and by the families of two victims, but declined. The most recent turndown was Robert Comer, whose grisly tale is well worth a link here and here.)

Inevitably, someone will invoke the dreaded word "closure" as the execution approaches.

But there will be no such thing for anyone involved, except for Beaty himself.

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why is there even a question that these "death row" inmates get killed ?? thats one thing I will never understand its a F^#@*!&% joke. Give her family and friends what they deserve some sort of peace by him no longer being on this earth. If he is innocent, which I highly doubt he will be in a better place otherwise when he stands in front of the Lord he will see into his heart and send him straight to hell. Prolonging these executions while we are all in dire need of some reform in this screwed economy the first place to go would be to stop paying for them to eat, have medical treatment and every other drain they put on us!!! KILL HIM..... if you stole in the old days they cut your hand off, you raped, pilfered or murded they stoned or hung your ass to death. Now these human rights activists try to keep these pathetic excuses for humans alive pretending not giving them due process, civil rights is wrong what about the families rights. let their daughter get raped and murdered then see what they say then. <> THERE ARE NO ATHEIST'S IN FOXHOLES<>

I personally knew Christy. I was in band with her in junior high. She was always smiling and we couldn't help smiling with her. It just sickens me that Donald is still living. When I try to imagine what poor Christy went through, I want him to die. He also stole the innocence of all the kids in my neighborhood. We were never allowed to roam around our blocks and gave us all nightmares. He is truly a living, breathing monster that should have been put down years ago...

I just feel so bad for her poor family. Christy was a great kid who would have made a domino effect of happiness in whatever she "should" have been able to do with her life.

Will this actually even this up, or just relieve the state of its job based on the conviction of Beaty? The DP does no good, & cost $$$$ with lots of waiting on all sides. Az should Abolish the DP, following the lead of 16 other smarter states. J. Brewer R you listing? Peace

a good friend of mine was also taken from us young and in the prime of her life. Beaten, raped and murdered. How dare they not kill these men in the same horrific ways ?? it just boggles the mind .....

abolish the DP are you kidding if they actually killed these people it would work its people who believe these pathetic evil monters shouldnt be killed that prolong it out so much!!! what should they let them go or just pay for them forever?? I take it you never had anyone close to you hurt maimed or murdered by one of these people, well i have and they should be stoned to death or hung F&%$ giving them a pain free death??? did their victims get that option???? The way i figure it is the only reason any smart person would appose the DP is because they wouldnt want it to happen to them!! which in my book means they would do something like that themselves and would like to have the option to live......